News

On 27 June, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius met with heads of EU diplomatic missions accredited to Lithuania, presented priorities for Lithuania’s incoming Presidency of the EU Council, and discussed other important issues of Lithuania’s foreign policy and key items on the international agenda. The meeting was held at the invitation of the Irish Ambassador to Lithuania Philomena Murnaghan.

The Foreign Minister thanked officials of the outgoing Irish Presidency of the EU Council for their contribution in many important areas: the strengthening of the EU’s single market, the adoption of legislative acts relevant to the EU’s financial stability, aiming for the future progress of EU enlargement policy and free trade with the EU’s strategic partners.

Linkevičius pointed out that Lithuania would seek to ensure the continuity of the Presidency, just as the Irish Presidency did during the first half of 2013, and would focus mainly on financial stability, economic growth and job creation, as well as the EU enlargement and its neighbourhood.

The Foreign Minister drew attention to the fact that the legislative workload would be unusually heavy at the end of the EU’s legislative cycle and affirmed the readiness of Lithuanian institutions to work smoothly and effectively. He also noted that support of the EU’s partners was an essential condition for the achievement of the Presidency’s objectives.

The Foreign Minister identified the conclusion of negotiations on the EU’s multi-annual budget for 2014-2020 and the adoption of legislative acts needed for the budget to enter into force as key items on the current EU agenda. Linkevičius also drew attention to Lithuania’s intentions to push for progress on EU banking union and stressed the importance of completing the EU internal energy market.

The head of the Lithuanian diplomacy called the Eastern Partnership Summit that would be held in November the Presidency’s key event in Vilnius. The Foreign Minister expressed belief that this event would provide a positive impetus to the Eastern Partnership process.

Linkevičius also welcomed the cooperation between Lithuania and Ireland within the Trio Presidency of the EU Council, and thanked Ireland for sharing its valuable experience.